Summary
# S. 792: Compact Impact Fairness Act of 2023
## WHAT THIS BILL DOES
This bill changes the rules about which people can receive certain federal benefits. It allows citizens from three specific Pacific island nations who lawfully live in the United States to qualify for federal benefits, if they otherwise meet the requirements. The bill is consistent with section 141 of the Compacts of Free Association, which are agreements between the U.S. government and these three nations.
## WHO IT AFFECTS
Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau who lawfully reside in the United States.
## KEY PROVISIONS
• Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau who lawfully reside in the United States in accordance with section 141 of the Compacts of Free Association become eligible for specified Federal programs (a benefits program designed by the government). (Sec. 2(a)(1))
• A 5-year waiting period requirement no longer applies to these citizens with respect to any designated Federal program. (Sec. 2(b))
• These citizens qualify as "qualified aliens" for all designated Federal programs rather than only for Medicaid (a government health insurance program for low-income people). (Sec. 2(c))
## WHAT CHANGES
If this bill becomes law, citizens from these three Pacific island nations who live legally in the U.S. can apply for federal benefits on the same basis as other eligible people. Previously, they could only access certain benefits after waiting five years. The bill removes that waiting period and expands which benefits they can receive.
## IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
None defined in bill text.
## EFFECTIVE DATE
Not specified in bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 792
To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996
to provide certain Federal public benefits to citizens of the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the
Republic of Palau who are lawfully residing in the United States if
they are otherwise qualified, consistent with section 141 of the Compacts
of Free Association.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 14, 2023
Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. BOOZMAN, and Mr. SCHATZ) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Act of 1996 to provide certain Federal public benefits
to citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of
Palau who are lawfully residing in the United States
if they are otherwise qualified, consistent with section
141 of the Compacts of Free Association.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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•S 792 IS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Compact Impact Fair-
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ness Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. PROVISION OF FEDERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT ELIGI-
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BILITY FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY ASSOCI-
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ATED STATES.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402 of the Personal Re-
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sponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
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1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612) is amended—
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(1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end
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the following:
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‘‘(N) EXCEPTION FOR CITIZENS OF FREE-
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LY ASSOCIATED STATES.—With respect to eligi-
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bility for benefits for any specified Federal pro-
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gram, paragraph (1) shall not apply to any in-
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dividual who lawfully resides in the United
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States in accordance with section 141 of the
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Compacts of Free Association between the Gov-
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ernment of the United States and the Govern-
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ments of the Federated States of Micronesia,
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the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the
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Republic of Palau, and who is a citizen of one
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of those three nations.’’; and
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(2) in subsection (b)(2)(G)—
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•S 792 IS
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by strik-
1
ing ‘‘MEDICAID EXCEPTION FOR’’ and inserting
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‘‘EXCEPTION FOR’’; and
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(B) by striking ‘‘the designated Federal
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program defined in paragraph (3)(C) (relating
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to the Medicaid program)’’ and inserting ‘‘any
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designated Federal program’’.
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(b) EXCEPTION TO 5-YEAR WAIT REQUIREMENT.—
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Section 403(b)(3) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1613(b)(3)) is
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amended by striking ‘‘, but only with respect to the des-
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ignated
Federal
program
defined
in
section
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402(b)(3)(C)’’.
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(c) DEFINITION
OF QUALIFIED ALIEN.—Section
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431(b)(8) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)(8)) is amended
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by striking ‘‘, but only with respect to the designated Fed-
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eral program defined in section 402(b)(3)(C) (relating to
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the Medicaid program)’’.
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Æ
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